Steve Cooper reacts to jaw-dropping moment in Nottingham Forest’s 4-0 win over West Brom

Nottingham Forest strengthened their grip on a play-off place with an eye-catching 4-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion on Monday.

The Reds bounced back from their 1-0 defeat at Luton Town brilliantly and capitalised on Darnell Furlong’s early red card.

Jack Colback added the third in first half additional time, taking on an audacious volley with the outside of his left foot, from a more traditional crossing position.

Steve Cooper was convinced the former Sunderland man meant to shoot when he spoke to The Athletic.

He said: “When you whip one in with the outside of your foot from an acute angle like that… you do not just jog back to the centre-circle, do you?

“It was a great moment.

“Jack said that he tried to score.

“He is not a character who generally craves any extra praise.

“He is a bit of a throwback on that front.

“I am not going to argue with him if he said he meant it.

“It is one of the best goals we have seen at the City Ground this season.”

Even though Colback is not the most ‘edge of your seat’ player in the current Forest squad, it is easy to forget that he has 178 Premier League appearances to his name, and still offers a lot to the Reds at the age of 32.

The Verdict

The way Colback shapes up to strike the ball when it drops to him, suggests that he is trying to shoot, if crossing was the intention he may try and bring the ball down first.

Cooper’s comments back that up, and Colback does not come across like the type of player who would try and take credit for something unintentional.

It is quite incredible how Cooper has improved virtually every single player in the squad this season, and Colback has slotted into a fairly unfamiliar left wing back seamlessly.

The versatile player’s experience could be